Epilogue #2
Lady Catherine had been surrounded by a loving family who had helped her through the grief of her daughter’s death.
She had, in fact, been adopted as a surrogate grandmother by the growing number of children born to her nieces and nephews.
In a strange twist of fate, Elizabeth Darcy became her favourite niece, so she spent at least three months a year with the Darcys.
She never offered advice unless asked, and even then only if she was truly knowledgeable on the subject.
To date, both Fitzwilliam brothers’ wives had gifted them with two children—a son and daughter for Jane and Andrew, and a daughter and a son for Mary and Richard.
Lord and Lady Matlock, often times accompanied by Lady Catherine who lived with them at Snowhaven when she was not with the Darcys, spent a great deal of time with their children and grandchildren.
The complete redecorations of Fitzwilliam House had been completed by Christmas of 1811 and was a delight to see, for it was a comfortable and happy home. Everyone was complimentary of the end result, none more so than Lady Catherine.
As had been predicted, given the proximity of Hilldale and Pemberley, when both families were in residence there were almost-weekly visits in one direction or the other. After Kitty married, she was visited often, as Birchington was less than forty miles to the west of Pemberley in Nottinghamshire.
There was no paucity of visits with the rest of the family.
Each time they travelled south, family members from the north stopped at Longbourn on the way to Town or Kent, with the same being true on their return home.
Netherfield Park was utilised for a two month visit to the area each year and numerous shorter visits by many family members.
The Fitzwilliams of Rosings Park would always stay at Netherfield for the two months the Darcys and others were in residence each year, unless it was around the time of a final confinement, which had been the case when Mary’s son had been born.
Even with Mary and Richard being the farthest from their sisters and brothers in the north, they met a good number of times each year, just as had been predicted on the day Mary and Jane married the brothers.
Seaview Cottage had become a favourite destination for all members of the extended family. The Darcys returned in June of the first year of their marriage and explored the wonders of the secluded cove—many times. They were convinced Bennet had been conceived there.
The cottage was used so much, it was a rare time when family was not in residence.
In order to accommodate their growing families, Darcy had suggested to his wife they should extend the house; she agreed without reservation.
The renovations had been completed four years previously and had almost doubled the size of the structure.
The extended family included the Lucases and Mr. Dudley. Franklin and Matilda Lucas had two sons and were as happy as could be. Charlotte’s other brothers, John and Nick, each married a Long niece. The former and his wife had a daughter, while the latter and his wife had a son.
Mr. Dudley still ministered to his flock and saw his daughter and grandchildren—the lights of his life—two to three times a week, sometimes more. Two years previously, he hired a full-time curate, which allowed him more time to relax as he groomed the younger man to take over when he retired.
Other than Bennet, Charlotte, the bride, and her matron of honour, the rest of the family walked to the church to take their places.
Elizabeth walked with little Fanny, holding her hand, while Tommy walked with his eldest sister.
It had been decided the youngest Bennet was still too young to be a flower girl on her own, so her mother would walk her up the aisle carrying a basket with some petals in it for little Fanny to drop in the aisle.
When Lydia walked down the stairs with Helen holding her train, Bennet could see his late wife clearly in his second youngest daughter. Lydia was a mirror image of her mother in all but character.
Once Mr. Dudley had conducted the wedding for the fifth Bennet sister, everyone returned to Longbourn’s enlarged ballroom, where a sumptuous wedding breakfast awaited them.
Charlotte and Bennet sat in a corner watching as Lydia and her husband made the rounds of the well-wishers in the room.
The youngest Bennet had, until a few minutes ago, refused to move from her mother, but as she grew tired she agreed to allow Mrs. Hill, who was almost like a surrogate grandmother to her, carry her up to the nursery to nap.
“Charlotte, I find I love you more each day; you have given me so much. Who would have believed we would have eight such wonderful children? My late wife would have despaired at Lydia waiting until she was almost two and twenty to marry, but she would not have repined the matches her daughters have made,” Bennet told his wife quietly.
“Thomas, I have received as much, if not more, than I have given. My heart is full with my love for you, and I believe things are just as they should be. It was ordained by the fates; I was simply the vessel,” Charlotte replied as she gave her husband’s hand a squeeze.
“You may try to minimize the effect you had on me and my family, my love, but it will not do. From that first fateful meeting in my study, you took charge, and have been quietly steering us ever since. You, my love, are a gift from God,” Bennet insisted.
The reason for Charlotte’s actions was never heard from again, a fact no one in the family repined.
The family would never know, but Mr. Collins had met his end when he tried to assert his superiority in a small frontier town in the Canadas, and the man he insulted had shot him on the spot.
The former parson was so unpopular in the town that no one cared about his demise; he was buried in an unmarked grave.
It was an oft repeated conversation they had over the years, though they both knew it was a pointless argument. Regardless of the reason, she, her husband, and family were all incandescently happy.
As the couple watched their twins being ushered to the nursery to rest along with their daughters’ children, there was no denying how good their life was.
It was the well acknowledged fact by many in the family that thanks to Charlotte’s intervention, Longbourn would have a Bennet as master for many generations to come.
~~~The End~~~